Locating between 100![]()
04'-100
16'east longitude and 27![]()
03'-27
40' north latitude,
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Mountain) is the southernmost glacier
in the Northern Hemisphere. Consisting of 13 peaks, among which
Shanzidou is the highest one with an altitude of 5,596 meters (18,360
feet), Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stretches a length of 35 kilometers (22
miles) and a width of 20 kilometers (13 miles). Looking from Lijiang Old
Town in the south which is 15 kilometers (nine miles) away, the
snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in
the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
According to the geologists'
research, for about 400 million years the area around Jade Dragon Snow
Mountain was the ocean and it was during the last 600 thousand years
that the different landscapes had come into being because of the
uprising of the lithosphere. Archaic legend about this mysterious and
beautiful snow mountain goes like this: Once upon a time, Jade Dragon
Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain were twins. They had lived on
panning in Golden Sand River until one day an evil fiend usurped the
river. The brothers were very brave and had a fierce fight with the
fiend, Haba died in the fight and Jade Dragon drove off the fiend after
wearing out 13 swords. For guarding the people and preventing the return
of the fiend, Jade Dragon held the 13 swords in hands day and night. As
time passed, the brothers had turned into the two snow mountains, and
the 13 swords had become the 13 peaks. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a
holy mountain for the local Naxi people not only because of the legend,
but also because long time ago, it was a place for young lovers to
sacrifice their young lives in honor of true love and to escape from the
arranged marriages and feudal ethics.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a
sanctuary for rare animals and wild plants. In fact, one fourth of all
plant species in China can be found here and 20 primeval forest
communities shelter a big family of 400 types of trees and 30 kinds of
animals which are protected by the state. These species live in
different temperature levels and create different kinds of views of Jade
Dragon Snow Mountain. The 13 peaks, which have the altitudes of at least
4,000 meters, are covered by snow all year round; the mountain is called
the "Natural Glacier Museum" for it has all types of glacier. Move down
from the mountaintop and you can see rivers and pools, which are formed
by the thawed snow water running along the valley and through the
forests. The plants and the animals are different according to the
altitude, so are the views. Every sight brings you a surprise and every
step takes you to a new scene. Each of the meadows on Jade Dragon Snow
Mountain has its own special character due to their different landscape
and height. For instance, Yunshanping (Spruce Plateau) is grassland with
gigantic spruces whilst Ganhaizi (Dry Sea) used to be a highland lake as
its name tells, the meadow was formed after the water had dried
up.
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